King County Sheriff’s Office to investigate Reardon’s ties to records requests

The King County Sheriff’s Office will investigate mysterious records requests, attack web sites and other shenanigans alleged to be connected to employees at the Snohomish County Executive’s Office.

Reports about the requests in the Everett Herald were followed by County Executive Aaron Reardon’s sudden resignation last week, a day after the County Council took the information services department out of his control over concerns about data security. Reardon said he will step down May 31, although he has still not formally resigned in writing.

The requests were for information about county employees who cooperated with a Washington State Patrol investigation into Aaron Reardon last year. One of Reardon’s aides, Kevin Hulten, has acknowledged he is behind the requests, which were made under the name “Edmond Thomas.”

Snohomish County Council chairwoman Stephanie Wright said today: “I am confident that King County will provide the independent and thorough review of all allegations that our citizens and employees deserve.”

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Politics Northwest is the go-to blog for politics in our region. The blog explores national, state and local political news and issues. Reporters from Washington, D.C., to Seattle City Hall to the state capital in Olympia contribute. Editors are Richard Wagoner and Beth Kaiman.